You can still picture the entire situation clearly in your head — from the crushing feeling of your Aura dropping to 20%, to the brief impact of your body colliding with the arena floor, and even right down to the sounds your classmates and Cardin himself made and the words they said.

Now, sitting in the locker room by yourself, you let your gaze wander over your weapon as you search for damage that isn't even there. Anything to distract yourself from the humiliation you never thought you would feel. You've always been a good combatant. But losing to Cardin... that was new. Maybe you've just been working yourself too hard?

Your thoughts are interrupted when the locker room door opens. You're just about to look up when you hear a familiar, icy voice ringing in the air: it's Weiss Schnee herself. "That was a terrible defeat. Even for you."

The emphasis on the last few words doesn't escape your notice. You feel disappointed in yourself, for whatever reason. But why is she here?